The Vampire Diaries ‘Catch Me If You Can’ review: Killers not murderers

Oh, you guys. After my huge, redundant, and delayed (all in one, it was weird) epiphany last week about The Vampire Diaries being a grand ol’ thrilling soap opera, this episode was just that much more enjoyable. Because, obviously, we can talk about all of things that would normally irk me in this episode. We truly can.

For example, the fact that my sister and I were yelling at Elena to just break Damon’s neck (though, that could have been a sire thing… who knows?) for about 20 minutes before someone did that. Or that Creepy Professor tells Bonnie that she likes Expression rather than showing us that. Or that TVD‘s love map needs to grow even more now that Rebekah has also had her share of the Salvatore brothers (but, actually, I’m not mad at this). Or that the show easily brushed aside that one of its heros was completely okay with murdering innocent people. Or even that Bonnie’s dad is just part of the story all willy nilly. Or the continued tradition of BIGGER BAD is still a thing: now Silas can end ALL OF TIME.

But we won’t talk about those things. Because Vampire Diaries last night was fun — and that’s all I’m asking for these days. And I hate to put it this way, but I think that “Catch Me If You Can” may all be about Stefan. Stefan, not being “in” love with Elena looks good on you. Please do more of that, thanks. We’ve spent so much of this series with Stefan being a bit obsessive about Elena in that sense, that seeing him being of sound mind and still not fawning over our heroine was a breath of fresh air. You don’t need to make Stefan a Ripper, writers, you just need to make him not be in love with Elena — and it turns out, there’s a character underneath that. Now, I can’t attest to whether or not Stefan meant that sincerely (it has been, like, a day… and he’s still looking for the cure… and he’s apparently still being tortured by his relationship), but I do think it was sort of a meta moment that the episode where Stefan’s been the most fun without being a psycho murderer is the same where he tells Elena, “You don’t know what I look like when I’m not in love with you.” Priceless.

The same goes for Rebekah telling Stefan that he used to be fun in the Roaring 20s when he was murdering people — nay, he wasn’t a murderer… just a killer. And it was fun! Killing is a delight! Once again, this can be nothing but the writers telling us we’re taking death too seriously… especially considering it came right after the bar massacre scene. And you know, why not? Though I think it’s a bit of a juxtaposition to have a season where the writers are trying their hardest to give more substance to death on the show and then have about three massacres and a character calling it “not murder.” But I feel as though, unlike before, the show is very aware about it all. It’s not executing it as self-aware as it can be, but even Stefan admitted that Damon tried to kill Jeremy before — and yet, Elena continues to love him. The show gets how disturbed it can be sometimes, and I think it’s sort of like, look, we know… but… let’s just have some fun. Let’s! Although, we should mention that Damon would be willing to let Jeremy kill him rather than continue with his compulsion. But as aforementioned, isn’t his reactions to Mayor Lockwood and Jeremy dying sort of undone by his approval of the bar massacre?

Anyway, to hell with Elena! I’m glad more people are onboard with this, including Tyler who was absent this episode. All Stefan wanted was to get it in. Poor you Stefan, the only other CW character that has gone this long is Dan Humphrey.

But there are still people that care about Elena, so we must discuss them as well… I guess. What I truly love about this conflict here is that everyone is sort of in a rat race and against each other. If we think about it that way, I think Silas is a much more interesting plot point to have even more people be against each other. What I seriously love about this season of the series is that it has put all of our characters in constant battle against each other in a way that no other season has been able to construct. So I like the idea of everyone going after the cure, and I’m mostly okay with all of their motivations. I can’t explain it, I just think that the show can utilize these tensions across the board better than, say, brining Silas in and now everyone has to take him down. Last night, as my sister and I were watching, she mentioned that Klaus is the worst villain. And normally I’d agree, except this time I replied, “Well, there really is no villain right now.” And it’s true. And I sort of love that.

Now, as for Damon being compelled, I won’t comment on how it’s another epic romance detour. But I do like that it caused Elena to think of a plan. (Well, let’s be honest… plans and Elena don’t mix, more like she thought of an idea. But I sill love the idea.) And speaking of Damon, I’m glad that the show sort of acknowledged that maybe Damon can’t love her without being a vampire, just like Stefan can’t completely love her if she isn’t human. Once again, it’s just people telling them that (I mean, they could have had Kol compel it out of him…) but it’s just another reinforcement of how the brothers love her.

But mostly, even with Kol’s large following, I just want to see Jeremy kill an Original.

Some bites:

• I really, really, really loved the direction of the scene in which Bonnie let’s Expression take over. The hue and everything was great. I think this is the first time I’ve ever thought that about a scene on the show. Whoever was directing: you go Glenn Coco!
• Speaking of Bonnie, this was a nice little episode for her, too. She got some great lines and such.
• Matt needs some sort of insurance and stat.
• Also, I just know that the series is going to make it seem so difficult for Jeremy to kill Kol, but lest we forget that Matt killed an Original? Matt.
• Even if I’m not okay with everyone having revenge sex with Rebekah because Rebekah is the best, I’m kind of ABSOLUTELY okay with Stefan and Rebekah. Make that happen. I think it’s interesting, too, that Rebekah was much more emotionally attached to her fling with Damon and not her fling with Stefan, who she had a connection with. Let’s see how it develops, if at all.

Weirdly, I put this up about 12 hours after I usually would. This is like the second time the entire series I didn’t watch it “live,” but also my Internet was acting up. The same will most likely happen next week when I watch the 30 Rock finale live instead because… come on, it’s the finale!